Spring core assembly machine

ABSTRACT

A spring core assembly arrangement in which a substantially large number of clamping jaw pairs are arranged next to one another in a row for holding together the end coils of adjacent coil springs, while they are connected to one another by threading through wire coils. A cut-off and loop forming device cuts off the wire coils on at least one clamping jaw pair, and forms the cut-off wire coils into loops. A pair of knives are provided in the cut-off and loop forming device for cutting the wire coil. The cut-off and loop forming device is located between two adjacent clamping jaw pairs of the assembly arrangement. Each clamping jaw pair, furthermore, has an associated pair of knives and a device for forming the loop. Between two clamping jaw pairs, there is a catcher duct for the cut-off wire coil remainder which can be turned about an axis normal to its longitudinal direction.

United States Patent Spuhl [45] Dec. 9, 1975 SPRING CORE ASSEMBLYMACHINE Primary Examiner-Lowell A. Larson [75] Inventor: Walter spfihlSt Gallen Attorney, Agent, or FirmWaters, Schwartz & Nissen Switzerland73 Assignee: Spuhl AG, St. Gallen, Switzerland [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed:Man 12 1975 A spring core assembly arrangement in which a substantiallylarge number of clamping aw pairs are ar- PP 557,669 ranged next to oneanother in a row for holding together the end coils of adjacent coilsprings, while 30 F A E they are connected to one another by threading Iorelgn pp canon Prmmy Data through wire coils. A cut-off and loopforming device Mar. 19, 1974 Germany 2413033 cuts off the wire coils onat least one clamping j pair, and forms the cut-off wire coils intoloops. A pair 140/ 22 319273 2 of knives are provided in the cut-off andloop forming o u t t t [58] Field Of Search l40/i4CA, 92.3, 92.7, 92.8,forming device is located between two adjacent 0/9294 81/907 clampingjaw pairs of the assembly arrangement. Each clamping jaw pair,furthermore, has an associated pair [56] References Clted of knives anda device for forming the loop. Between UNITED STATES PATENTS twoclamping jaw pairs, there is a catcher duct for the 3,048,203 8/1962Hunter 140/107 utff wire coil remainder which can be turned about3,122,177 2/1964 Kamp l40/92.7 an axis normal to its longitudinaldirection. 3,648,737 3/1972 Dull l40/92.7

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 US. Patent Dec. 9,1975 Sheet 2 on 3,924,665

U.S. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,924,665

SPRING CORE ASSEMBLY MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION wire coils. Acut-off and loop formation device cuts off the wire coils on at leastone clamping jaw pair and forms them into loops. This device has a pairof knives for cutting the wire coil and parts for forming the loop.

Assembly machines for spring cores for mattresses of this type are knownin the art from German Patent Application No. 1,552,149. It is alsoknown in connection with these machines, to provide at the two outermostclamping jaw pairs, a cut-off and loop formation device so as to preventthe wire coil from being threaded through after loop formation. In thismanner, spring cores for mattresses of standard width can bemanufactured. Cut-off and loop formation devices by themselves arealready known in the art. Such a device has been described, for example,in German application GM. No. 1,883,01 1. It has a fixed and a movableknife, as well as an anvil and a movable rammer as loop formationelements.

With the spring core assembly machines known so far it was possible onlyto manufacture spring cores for mattresses of standard widtheconomically. But for a variety of reasons, there is a considerabledemand for spring cores for narrow mattresses. Accordingly, it is anobject of the present invention to modify a known spring core assemblymachine of the initially described type in such a way that also springcores for narrow mattresses can be economically produced by them. Thisrequires the provision of additional devices for socalled mid-way loopformation, that is, for cutting off the wire coil and for loop formationin the center of the spring core of standard width. 1

Another object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement ofthe foregoing character which is simple in design and construction, andmay be easily fabricated.

A further object of the present invention is to provide aspring coreassembly arrangement, as described, in which the parts of the machineare readily accessible for service, and the machine has a substantiallylong operating life.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objects of the present invention areachieved by providing that the cut-off and loop formation device islocated between two adjacent clamping jaw pairs of the assembly machine.To each clamping jaw pair, there is assigned a pair of knives and anelement for loop formation. Also, between the two clamping jaw pairsthere is located a catcher duct for the cut-off wire coil remainder.This catcher duct canbe swiveled about an axis or shaft at right anglesto its longitudinal dimension and can be lifted in the direction of thisshaft. In the lifted position it is located in the area of the mouth ofa blow-out line for the wire coil remainder.

In accordance with another embodiment of this invention, a bent piece ofwire is located at the swivelable catcher duct in such a way that in thecatching position is transversely penetrates the catcher duct, but inthe swiveled position does not enter into the catcher duct.

2 Due to this design, the cut-off wire coil remainder is held in thecatcher duct till the latter is swiveled to the blow-out position.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both asto its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 shows a top view of thosesections of a spring core assembly machine pertaining to the inventionin an operating position, with the clamping jaws closed and with thewire coil not yet cut;

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged detail of the drive of the movable knife;

FIG. 3 shows a top view as FIG. 1, but after actuating the knives andforming of the loops;

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged section of FIG. 3 with the catcher orcollecting duct and the cut-off wire coil reniainder;

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged top view of the left-hand pair of knives withthe loop already formed;

FIG. 6 shows a top view in accordance with FIG. 1, but with the clampingjaws opened and with the catcher duct swung to the blow-out position;and

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged view of the device for Iifting the catcher ductinto the blow-out position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In referring to the drawing,the machine shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6 for assembling spring cores formattresses shows a row of clamping jaw carriers 1. Each carrier 1 mountsa fixed clamping jaw 2 and a movable clamping jaw 3. The movableclamping jaw 3 is moved back and forth in the operating rhythm of themachine between the closed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and theopened position shown in FIG. 6 in a manner already known, and notshown. The pairs of clamping jaws, 2, 3 are shaped in such a way thatthey can receive at any one time the lower end coils 4, 5 of twoadjacent coil springs. In the closed position, the clamping jaw pairs 2,3 at the same time constitute a guide for a wire coil 6, which in FIG.1, for example, is screwed from the right-hand through all clamping jawpairs so that the end coils 4, 5 of the coil springs are connected withone another. A machine of this type is already known in the art and hasbeen described in detail in the German Patent Application No. 1,552,149.To provide for such a machine at the two outermost clamping jaw pairs,hence at the extreme left-hand and extreme right-hand clamping jaw pair,a cut-off and loop formation device for the wire coil 6 is already knownin the art. In this manner, spring cores for mattresses of standardwidth can be manufactured. FIGS. 1, 3 and 6 show only the lower clampingjaw carriers 1 of the machine. It is self-understood that symmetricallyidentical clamping jaw carriers are present to connect the upper endcoils of the coil springs.

In order to manufacture with the same machine spring cores for narrowmattresses in an economic manner, the wire coils between the two middleclamping jaw carriers 1' or 1' must also be cut and provided with loops.For this purpose, two devices for cutting the wire coil 6 and forforming loops are located between the two middle clamping jaw carriersshown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6. Their design is basically similar to thedevices located at the outermost clamping jaw carriers but theirdimensions are smaller. The exact construction of such a device isknown, for example, from the German Patent Application No. 1,883,011.

To each of the clamping jaw pairs 2', 3 or 2", 3" of the middle carriers1 and 1 there is assigned a device for cutting and loop formation of thewire coil 6. This device has a fixed knife 7 and a movable knife 8 eachof which is held by a knife support 9 (FIGS. 2 and The drive for themovable knives 8 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The piston rod 11a or 11b,of a compressed-air cylinder aggregate 102 or b, respectively, actuatesa lever l2a or 12b, which, in turn, actuates the movable knife 8 via atwoarm rocking lever 13 (FIG. 2).

As is evident from FIG. 5 and from the above-mentioned German Patent GMNo. 1,883,01 1, parts of the movable knife 8 at the same time constitutea rammer, and parts 3a of clamping jaw 3 constitute an anvil for formingloop 6a which connects the end coils 4, 5.

FIGS. 3 and S'show the position of the parts after cutting through thewire coil 6 and after forming the loop. Hence, there remains between theclamping jaws of carriers 1, 1 a cut-off wire coil remainder 6b. So thatthe latter "can be removed from the machine, it must be held and fed toa collector. For this purpose, there is located between the knives acatching device which is shown enlarged in FIGS. 4 and 7. It has acatcher duct 15 which can be swiveled on a tubelike carrier about apivot 17 by 90. A second pivot 18 of the catcher duct 15 actuates a rod19, which, as indicated by the double arrow 23, can be moved back andforth axially, controlled by the machined drive. This movement causes aswing of the catcher duct 15 by 90 (see the position indicated by adot-dash line). At the loop 18a which is also connected to rod 19,contact is made with a bent piece of wire, 20 which enters the catcherduct 15 through openings 21, 22. The piece of wire 20 is bent in such away that it does not prevent the swinging of the catcher duct, and itslength is such that its end 20a does not protrude into the catcher ductwhen it is in the swiveled position. The piece of wire 20 has the taskof holding the cut-off wire coil remainder 6b till it can be blow out,as will be described later. The piece of wire 20 does not prevent thethreading through of the wire coil 6 through the catcher duct 15.

7 FIG. 6 shows an operational phase of the assembly machine with theclamping jaws 2, 3 open and the loops 6'ajforrned at the'end coils 4, 5.The catcher duct has already been swung by 90. The wire coil remainder6b is still in the catcher duct 15. At this point in time, the carrier16 is lifted into a blow-out position. The necessary device is shown inFIG. 7. To a holder 25, rigidly connected to the machine, a pivottrunnion 26 is fastened to'which the tubelike carrier is swiveled. Thecarrier 16 is connected via a rod 29 to a two-arm lever 28 which isdriven by a machine element 27 moving back and forth against the tensileforceof a spring 24. At the knife support 9 (only indicated in FIG. 7)there is a tube 30 that ends in a nozzle 31. When the end of the carrier16 is in the lifted position shown in FIG. 7, compressed air isintroduced into tube 30 as indicated by arrow 32. This air blows thewire coil remainder 6b through the hollow carrier 16 into a catcher duct30 which terminates in a collector. Now carrier 16 returns to itsinitial position. The catcher duct 15 is swiveled back. A new set ofcoil springs is supplied to the still open clamping jaws 2, 3.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapted for various applications without omitting features that,from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention,and therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. A spring core assembly machine comprising, in combination, aplurality of clamping jaw pairs arranged next to one another in a rowfor holding together the end coils of adjacent coil springs while saidsprings are connected to one another by threading through wire coils;cut-off and loop forming means for cutting off wire coils on at leastone clamping jaw pair and forming the cut-off wire coils into loops,said cut-off and loop forming means being located between two adjacentclamping jaw pairs and having a pair of knives for each respectiveclamping jaw pairs for cutting said wire coils.

2. The machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said loop forming meansincludes a loop forming element for each respective clamping jaw pairs.

3. The machine as defined in claim 2 including duct means for catchingthe cut-off wire coil remainder.

4. The machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said cut-off wire coilremainder is tumable about an axis normal to the longitudinal directionof said wire coil remainder.

5. The machine as defined in claim 4 including rod means linked to saidduct means and movable reciprocably for rotating said duct means bysubstantially 6. The machine as defined in claim 5 including supportingmeans for said duct means, said duct means being rotatable about saidangle by said rod means on said support means.

7. The machine as defined in claim 4 including means for holding thelooped wire so that when said duct means is turned about said axissubstantially normal to the longitudinal direction thereof, said loopedwire does not enter said duct means, said looped wire passingtransversely through said duct means when said duct means remains in anonturned position.

8. The machine as defined in claim 7 including tubeshaped support meansfor said duct means, said duct means being pivotable on said supportmeans between a position for catching the cut-off wire coil remainderand in a position where said duct means is cleared.

9. The machine as defined in claim 8 wherein said tube-shaped supportmeans has an-exit duct for the wire coil remainder cleared from saidduct means, said support means having a rear opening in the clearingposition directed toward an entrance opening of said duct means.

1. A spring core assembly machine comprising, in combination, a plurality of clamping jaw pairs arranged next to one another in a row for holding together the end coils of adjacent coil springs while said springs are connected to one another by threading through wire coils; cut-off and loop forming means for cutting off wire coils on at least one clamping jaw pair and forming the cut-off wire coils into loops, said cut-off and loop forming means being located between two adjacent clamping jaw pairs and having a pair of knives for each respective clamping jaw pairs for cutting said wire coils.
 2. The machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said loop forming means includes a loop forming element for each respective clamping jaw pairs.
 3. The machine as defined in claim 2 including duct means for catching the cut-off wire coil remainder.
 4. The machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said cut-off wire coil remainder is turnable about an axis normal to the longitudinal direction of said wire coil remainder.
 5. The machine as defined in claim 4 including rod means linked to said duct means and movable reciprocably for rotating said duct means by substantially 90*.
 6. The machine as defined in claim 5 including supporting means for said duct means, said duct means being rotatable about said angle by said rod means on said support means.
 7. The machine as defined in claim 4 including means for holding the looped wire so that when said duct means is turned about said axis substantially normal to the longitudinal direction thereof, said looped wire does not enter said duct means, said looped wire passing transversely through said duct means when said duct means remains in a nonturned position.
 8. The machine as defined in claim 7 including tube-shaped support means for said duct means, said duct means being pivotable on said support means between a position for catching the cut-off wire coil remainder and in a position where said duct means is cleared.
 9. The machine as defined in claim 8 wherein said tube-shaped support means has an exit duct for the wire coil remainder cleared from said duct means, said support means having a rear opening in the clearing position directed toward an entrance opening of said duct means. 